Cyber risk is seen as a real and imminent risk, board members have to be aware of the risks facing their company in order to steer the organisation to its most secure path. But it’s not always easy.
Historically, cybersecurity was an area reserved for technologists working in remote server rooms. After the massive breaches like Equifax and Colonial Pipeline, however, it’s becoming evident that cyber security is a real and present business risk that impacts every aspect of an organization.
As a result, boards are demanding more from their CISOs and security teams. Board members need to understand how a well trained security team can protect themselves against the latest threats, be it by investing in new technology or ensuring that employees are educated. The message needs to be delivered in a way that is easily understood by non-technical executives in the boardroom.
One way to accomplish this is to align security with business goals and use real-time metrics. You can provide the board with the information it requires to make a decision by delivering regular communications that show the evolution of security measures, a decreasing risk index, and other key metrics. Another strategy is to describe the impact, rather than passing along numbers – tell the story. You can demonstrate to your board how their quick actions have thwarted a crucial threat by presenting a true live example.